Sung to the tune of “My Favorite Things”

Contrary to an email myth that has ebbed and flowed across cyberspace over the last few years, Julie Andrews did not sing this on the occasion of her 69th birthday to an audience in Radio City Music Hall (please see http://www.snopes.com/humor/iftrue/andrews.asp). Still, it’s fun and funny. Somewhat sadly, a lot of it is also true!

Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favorite things.
 Cadillacs and cataracts ,and hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the pipes leak,
When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Back pains, confused brains, and no need for sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin',
And we won't mention our short shrunken frames,
When we remember our favorite things.

When the joints ache,
When the hips break, the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had,
And then I don't feel so bad.

Representing Rotary Club of Tallahassee – and sporting his Class of 1957 reunion hat – BrigGen (USAF-Ret) Bill Webb, rings in a little Christmas spirit during the holidays by manning a donation bucket outside a local business.

WPST Field Force representatives have been busy making high school visits throughout our area, discussing the Academy with interested students and alerting school advisors to the vital role that educators must play in a successful admissions process.  The West Point Society of Tallahassee Field Force efforts are increasing in scope, seeing results, and translating directly into quality young men and women moving from area high schools to Cadet gray. 

For the West Point Class of 2012, there are currently three high school seniors: One from Niceville High School and two from North Florida Christian High School that have received Appointments from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.  They are Cale Hansen from Niceville High School and Luke Adams and Brad Hitchens from North Florida Christian High School.  The West Point Society of Tallahassee sends them our congratulations and also to those who assisted them with going through the nomination process.

The Field Force members that have been busy helping those young men and women in Congressman Boyd’s district are:   BG (R) William Webb, BG (R) Pete Hidalgo, COL (R) Bruce Grant, LTC (R) William Sellen and Mr. Ted Johnson (new member assisting in Marianna, FL.)  The district’s Military Assistant Liaison Officer is COL (R) Charles Lawson.   The Field Force Area Coordinator is COL (R) Claude Shipley.

West Point is now also accepting applications for the 2008 Summer Leaders Seminar.  You can apply to the Summer Leaders Seminar online now until 1 April 2008. Please keep in mind West Point uses a rolling acceptance process so we strongly recommend early application.  Go to this website for more information http://admissions.usma.edu/

Go Army! Beat Navy!

                   -- THINK BEFORE YOU GIVE!

Some Nonprofits Shortchange Troops, Watchdog Group Says
By Philip Rucker, Washington Post Staff Writer
Washington Post
December 13, 2007, Pg. 1

Americans gave millions of dollars in the past year to veterans charities designed to help troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, but several of the groups spent relatively little money on the wounded, according to a leading watchdog organization and federal tax filings.

Eight veterans charities, including some of the nation's largest, gave less than a third of the money raised to the causes they champion, far below the recommended standard, the American Institute of Philanthropy says in a report. One group passed along 1 cent for every dollar raised, the report says. Another paid its founder and his wife a combined $540,000 in compensation and benefits last year, a Washington Post analysis of tax filings showed.

There are no laws regulating the amount of money charities spend on overhead, fundraising or giving. But the institute's report suggests that 20 of the 29 military charities studied were managing their resources poorly, paying high overhead costs and direct-mail fundraising fees and, in some cases, providing their leaders with six-figure salaries.

The 12 charities rated as failing by the institute -- including the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, the AMVETS National Service Foundation and the Freedom Alliance -- collected at least $266 million in the past fiscal year.

"They know how to work the system, and they seem pretty good at not going over the line, although it is pretty outrageous that so little money is actually winding up benefiting charities," said Daniel Borochoff, president and founder of the Chicago-based institute.

The charities' practices have sparked outrage among some members of Congress.

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform was scheduled to hold its first hearing on veterans charities this morning.

"People want to help the veterans," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the oversight committee. "They don't want to enrich organizations that are cynically exploiting veterans for their own personal gain.

"We need to make sure that the generous contributions of Americans to veterans will help veterans and not line the pockets of fundraisers and these organizations."

Richard H. Esau Jr., executive director of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, based in Annandale, said the cost of fundraising limits how much his group can spend on charitable causes. "Do you have any idea how much money it costs to advertise? It's unbelievable the amount of money it takes to advertise in the print and electronic media," he said. "I'm very proud of what we do, and we certainly do look after everybody. F or no F, the point is we do the right thing by veterans."

Borochoff said many veterans charities are "woefully inefficient," spending large sums on costly direct-mail advertising.

"They oversolicit. They love to send out a lot of trinkets and stickers and greeting cards and flags and things that waste a lot of money that they get little return on," said Borochoff, who plans to testify before Congress today.

The philanthropy institute gave F's to 12 of the 29 military charities reviewed and D's to eight. Five were awarded A-pluses, including the Fisher House Foundation in Rockville, which the institute says directs more than 90 percent of its income to charitable causes.

One group received an A, and one received an A-minus.

Jim Weiskopf, spokesman for Fisher House, said the charity does not use direct-mail advertising. "As soon as you do direct mail, your fundraising expenses go up astronomically," he said.

One egregious example, Borochoff said, is Help Hospitalized Veterans, which was founded in 1971 by Roger Chapin, a veteran of the Army Finance Corps and a San Diego real estate developer. The charity, which provides therapeutic arts and crafts kits to hospitalized veterans, reported income of $71.3 million last year and spent about one-third of that money on charitable work, the philanthropy institute said.

In its tax filings, Help Hospitalized Veterans reported paying more than $4 million to direct-mail fundraising consultants. The group also has run television advertisements featuring actor Sam Waterston, game show host Pat Sajak and other celebrities.

Chapin, 75, the charity's president, received $426,434 in salary and benefits in the past fiscal year, according to a filing with the Internal Revenue Service. His wife, Elizabeth, 73, received $113,623 in salary and benefits as "newsletter editor," the Post's review of the tax filing showed.

Chapin and other leaders of Help Hospitalized Veterans did not return calls for comment. But the charity e-mailed a statement stating that it is among "the finest veterans' charities this nation has to offer." The statement also said its "fundraising expenses, accounting methods, and executive salaries are comparable to other nonprofits in this field."

Bennett Weiner, chief operating officer of the Better Business Bureau, said the agency has 20 standards for reviewing charities, including that a charity's fundraising and overhead costs not exceed 35 percent of total contributions.

Weiner, who is scheduled to testify before the House committee today, said he could not comment specifically on veterans charities until after his testimony.

Advocates for veterans said they worry that scrutiny could damage military charities in general.

"In the rush to help, there's a lot of innovative work and good work happening, but there's also a lot of fraud and waste," said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "There's never been a greater need for veterans charities in a generation, and I hope issues like this don't deter people from giving."

Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), one of Congress's leading critics of charities, said some of the groups are abusing their tax-exempt status.

"Taxpayers are subsidizing that tax exemption," Grassley said through a spokeswoman. "Sitting on donors' money or spending too much on contracts and salaries doesn't benefit the public."

Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.), a member of the oversight committee, wants veterans charities to be held accountable.

"I hope there is an explanation, but it seems that most of the funds they raise never reach the veteran community," Sarbanes said through a spokeswoman. "Some of the practices being described are simply outrageous."

Rick Cohen, an expert on nonprofit groups and former executive director of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, called the spending decisions of some charities "grotesque."

"I think in light of the Iraq war and the Afghanistan war, these veterans are the people who we should really be protecting and not using as excuses or avenues for ripping off charity philanthropy," Cohen said.

Staff researcher Meg Smith contributed to this report.

How They Fared
The American Institute of Philanthropy, a leading charity watchdog, issued a report card this month for 29 veterans and military charities. Letter grades were based largely on the charities' fundraising costs and the percentage of money raised that was spent on charitable activities. The charities that received failing grades are in red.
Air Force Aid Society (A+) Army Emergency Relief (A+)  
Fisher House Foundation (A+)
Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (A+)
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (A+)
National Military Family Association (A)
Armed Services YMCA of the USA (A-)

USO (United Service Organization) (C+)
Veterans of Foreign Wars and foundation (C-)   

Blinded Veterans Association (D)
Disabled American Veterans (D)
National Vietnam Veterans Committee (D)
Soldiers' Angels (D)
United Spinal Association's Wounded Warrior Project (D)
Veterans of the Vietnam War (D)
 Veterans Coalition (D)
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (D)
World War II Veterans Committee (D)

Let us now praise unstinting dedication and loyalty. When the year 2007 draws to a close, an employee of the West Point Association of Graduates will retire. That, in itself, is nothing very significant. A few employees retire or leave to pursue other interests or to follow a spouse assigned to a new posting every year. But none possess the credentials and dedication of the one who departs on 31 December—and none probably ever will. You see, dear reader, that person is Ms. Jean A. Hoey, for many years the executive assistant to the chief executive of the Association, whether he was known as Secretary, Executive Director or President. And Jean has other distinctions as well.

She is one of eleven children, including five brothers and five sisters, born in the house in Garnerville, NY, where she presently resides with her two surviving sisters. She graduated from Garnerville Elementary School, conveniently located next door to her house, and then from Haverstraw High School—a somewhat greater distance from her doorstep. But her story begins in earnest in 1946, when she applied for and was hired by the Association of Graduates for a temporary position doing research on a topic or topics long since forgotten. By this time the Association had moved to the lower levels of Cullum Hall from elsewhere on West Point, and COL William Kost, Class of 1925, was the first full-time Association Secretary. A month later, COL Charles N. Branham, Class of 1922, succeeded him. When her temporary position expired, Jean was offered, and accepted, a permanent position with the Association. At the time there were only three other employees, including one Civil Service. A long-tenured employee at the time was Mrs. Blanche O. Kingsley, who had joined the association on 25 February 1929. Jean’s early work included everything from research to preparing Wedgwood china for mailing, working on a graphotype, entering address changes, and making arrangements for reunions. When Blanche Kingsley retired after 32 years, Jean took her job as secretary to the Association Secretary, eventually almost doubling her predecessor’s on-the-job longevity.

To put things into perspective, at this time, including the 875 members of the Class of 1946 (a three-year, wartime emergency class), West Point had only 16,163 graduates [as of the Class of 2007, we now have 64,116]. The Superintendent was MG Maxwell D. Taylor, Class of 1922, and the President of the association was Robert M. Danford, Class of 1904. During her 61-plus years of service, she witnessed: the graduation of the Academy’s first astronaut, Frank Borman ’50, and first African-American four-star general, Roscoe Robinson, Jr. ’51; the Academy Sesquicentennial in 1952; filming of the John Ford motion picture, The Long Gray Line; renovation of the riding hall into classrooms (Thayer Hall); the first Academic Computer Center; completion of the 1964 Library; expansion of the Corps from two regiments to four; expansion of the cadet mess (Washington Hall) and construction of Eisenhower and MacArthur Barracks; the demise of Plebe Christmas; the first successful flight to the moon by Mike Collins ’52 and Buzz Aldrin ’51; completion of Eisenhower Hall; appointment of women cadets; the advent of electives and academic majors; adoption of computers in lieu of slide rules and calculators; acquisition of the former Ladycliff College campus in Highland Falls and the subsequent move of the West Point Museum to Olmsted Hall at the Pershing Center, as the campus was renamed; completion of Herbert Hall; graduation of cadets who had graduates for both parents; the Academy Bicentennial in 2002; and the dedication of Kimsey Hall, Randall Hall and a number of other buildings made possible by private donations to the West Point Association of Graduates.

During this time, Jean also saw 18 different superintendents, 28 Commandants, and 13 Deans leading the Academy and served with 18 presidents/chairmen of the association. She also saw graduates march to the sound of guns in Korea, Viet Nam, Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, and numerous other places around the world and win the race to the moon and the Cold War. All in a career that exceeded 61 years of devoted service to West Point and its graduates. More than anything else, however, Jean was the personal face of the Association to countless graduates who served as Class officers, committee chairs, or in a myriad of other roles—or graduates who just called seeking information or assistance related to West Point and the Association.

Not one to stay at home, Jean toured Scandinavia and visited Russia twice—once while it was a controlled society and later when the people were much more friendly and outgoing. Today she was honored at the West Point Association of Graduates Christmas luncheon.

Congratulations to Jean for a job well done over a span of six decades of selfless service. We all will miss you.

Your humble servant, J. Phoenix, EsquirePlease forward guest articles, comments and suggestions for futuretopics to JPhoenix@aogusma.org.

Did you receive this Gray Matter from a friend? If so, you may sign up to receive all future issues directly at: http://www.aogusma.org/CONTACT/signup.htm.

If you liked this news letter, you may also enjoy ASSEMBLY magazine, theVoice of the Long Gray Line. For additional information, visit http://www.aogusma.org/sd/pubs/site/index.cfm.

There was a time, not too many decades ago, when many cadets traveled home for Christmas leave via the train rather than by airplane, back when JFK International still was Idlewild and La Guardia (NYC) and Midway (Chicago) were the aviation centers. Even when passenger service was discontinued on the west shore of the Hudson, cadets still bused to Port Authority and then hit the rails at Penn Station or Grand Central. East-west trains then carried exciting names, like the 20th Century Limited (1902-67), the Broadway Limited (1912-95), and the Empire Builder (1929-present), while their north-south kin favored names like the Orange Blossom Special (1925-53) or the City of New Orleans (1972-present; earlier, the Panama Limited). With your leave, dear reader, a bit of nostalgia about Christmas leave via the rails.

Two cadet classmates and roommates, who later were Ranger buddies, always caught the train for Chicago together for Christmas leave. Both got off in Chicago, trudged to the Illinois Central commuter train station in dress gray and long overcoats (traveling in uniform, a round-trip ticket in the late fifties was only $44), heavily laden with B-4 bags, for a relatively short trip to a neighborhood in the south of the city. There, Christmas cheer, a home-cooked meal and comfortable beds awaited. The following morning, the process reversed slightly, as both cadets returned to the downtown train station so that one could continue north and west for another day to his home in Minnesota. Ditto for the return trip, that usually began on New Year’s Day for the western cadet. Either way, the conductor almost always told them when the train was approaching Lima, OH. There, since World War II, employees of the Lima Army Tank Plant always met the trains passing through to provide refreshments to any service men and woman aboard. And the sandwiches and snacks were always top notch. The Lima Plant, by the way, also was the first to produce the modern Abrams tank.

Another interesting trip took place in the midst of a major snowstorm that hit West Point just as Christmas leave began. Uncertain of making it into NYC in time to catch their train at Grand Central, our dynamic duo was offered a solution by a classmate from Albany. Why not ride up to Albany in his Dad’s station wagon and catch the train there? It would save doubling back and allow a quick meal in Albany before catching the train. After a somewhat slippery ride north, a quick check at the Albany station indicated it would be at least two hours before the westbound train arrived from NYC. After a quick meal, a call to the station indicated the train was delayed another two hours. Time for a bit more Christmas cheer, but a later call almost caused a panic. The train would depart in 20 minutes. But it was not the train from NYC; that one still was delayed indefinitely by the storm, but a replacement train would be formed from an engine and cars locally available. To give some idea of the nature of this conglomeration, the passenger cars still had abrasive strips screwed to the spaces between the windows. Their purpose? For striking matches to light cigars. Needless to say, the trip took a record 22 hours.

But the real purpose of this departure from the norm is to tell of a somewhat later Christmas leave, when one of our two graduated cadets was returning from Chicago via Philadelphia and thence to the old Atlantic Coast Line for the trip south to Fayetteville, NC. At the time, units generally gave a portion of their personnel leave for Christmas, but they had to return by 28 December to allow others to take leave for New Year’s. Since there are a number of installations along the coast, the train carried a number of Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guard back to their respective duties after a too-short Christmas leave. Few spoke, although most recognized, if only by their short haircuts, that they shared a common, post-Christmas malaise. Misery may love company, but most suffered in solitary silence or unsuccessfully attempted sleep, like the gamblers in the Kenny Rogers song, with only an occasional glance out the window. That is, until Andy appeared, his arrival prematurely announced by his sonorous voice in the passageway.

Now Andy was not another serviceman returning from Christmas leave, although he did mention offhandedly that he had served in World War II. Andy was a sandwich vendor, but to describe him in that manner is the equivalent of calling Michelangelo a sign painter. Andy was more: he was the spirit of Christmas, Santa Claus, party planner, counselor, master of ceremonies and Welcome Wagon, all rolled into one. As he approached with his coffee urn, sandwiches, canned orange juice, Cokes and pastries, the car virtually came alive. He offered not just ordinary coffee but fresh-roasted Columbian; his ham sandwiches were made by his wife that morning with homemade bread and the finest Virginia ham; his pastries were just-baked; and the juices were full of sunshine goodness. He did not just sell; he offered you the opportunity to invest in your personal health and continued happiness.

Suddenly, Sailors discovered that the Marine seated a row up and across the aisle was from their hometown. Soldiers found that they were traveling with men from a unit in the next brigade. Coast Guardsmen found comrades who had served on their vessel previously. Everyone sat up straighter, smiled, laughed and engaged neighbors in conversation. New friends offered to buy sandwiches or drinks for each other. Short a dollar? No problem. Several strangers offered to cover the difference. Many who initially vowed to ignore the food offered suddenly began salivating over several items that seemed exactly what they had always wanted to try. And the good fellowship did not end there. Were you from Florida? Andy had been there. Chicago? He had worked at Wrigley Field. Texas? Andy knew a great barbecue place in Galveston. Long after Andy moved on to the next car, the spirit of fellowship and camaraderie remained, as addresses were exchanged and offers to visit were made. An entire trainload of servicemen, and a few servicewomen, were rescued from the post-holiday blues by an extraordinary man named Andy. True, Andy received money for his wares, but his priceless spirit was completely gratis.

It is unlikely that angels pose as food vendors on obscure train lines during the holidays, but after over 40 years, I still think that Andy was an exceptional entity who earned his wings that December day so long ago.

Your humble servant, J. Phoenix, EsquirePlease forward guest articles, comments and suggestions for futuretopics to JPhoenix@aogusma.org.

Did you receive this Gray Matter from a friend? If so, you may sign up to receive all future issues directly at: http://www.aogusma.org/CONTACT/signup.htm.

If you liked this news letter, you may also enjoy ASSEMBLY magazine, theVoice of the Long Gray Line. For additional information, visit http://www.aogusma.org/sd/pubs/site/index.cfm.

Every year, something miraculous happens the first Saturday in December the Army-Navy game. It is one of the most fabled and long-standing rivalries in American athletics. Navy Midshipmen and Army Cadets spend their entire four years of college saying ˜Beat Army" or "Beat Navy" dozens of times a day.  In the weeks leading up to the contest both Academies wage mock war against each other with pranks, commando raids and high jinx.  This year a squad of Army Cadets-turned-Special-Forces sneaked from West Point to Annapolis to kidnap Navy mascot, Bill the Goat, then made a hostage video and sent it around the world on YouTube.  The day before the game, each Academy sends a game ball hundreds of miles, tucked under the arms of Cadet and Midshipmen marathon runners.  On game day the entire Army Corps of Cadets and Navy Brigade of Midshipmen traveled to a neutral city for the battle.

Not only is the Army-Navy game one of the oldest college football competitions in the nation, in many ways it is one of the best.  It's not that the football is great, because it's usually not.  The young men who play for Army or Navy weren't recruited by the top university teams.  They're too small or too light.  They aren't semi-professional football stars, living, eating and studying apart from their college classmates.  The men who play at West Point or Annapolis major in physics or electrical engineering and spend more time doing homework and marching in drills than at football practice.  When they graduate they won't be drafted by the NFL.  It is the last organized football game most of them will ever play.  In a few months time, they will be Navy ensigns standing watch on ships in the Persian Gulf, Marine lieutenants flying helicopter reconnaissance missions in Afghanistan, and Army lieutenants walking the streets of Baghdad.

So why is the Army-Navy game one of the best in college football?  Because it is a metaphor for what is best about America.  It shows us that we are at our best when we fight ferociously in the game but afterwards, no matter who wins or who loses, we come together as brothers.

The finest moment of the Army-Navy game comes after the whistle blows.  Last Saturday, Navy won 38-3, in a game that was closer than the final score suggests.   At the end, no fans rushed onto the field. Nor did they head for their cars to get ahead of the traffic. They stood at their seats, took off their hats, and put their hands on their hearts.  The entire stadium was silent, respectful, alert.

The players don't do war dances or whoops of victory, either.  Both teams walk solemnly across the field and met at the 50-yard line.  They shook hands and patted the backs of their opponents. They took off their helmets, tucked them under their arms and walked together to Army's side and, shoulder to shoulder sang the Army alma mater to the entire 4000 Corps of Cadets.

Both teams then turned and walked to the Navy stands and sang the Navy Blue and Gold anthem to the 4000 Brigade of Midshipmen. If you looked up at the stadium screens you could see that many of the players had tears in their eyes. If you looked at your neighbors in the stands, they did too. Because what everyone in that stadium witnessed was the miracle that is America that after the fiercest of contests we can rise above the victory or the defeat and come together as one nation. Regardless of our religion, family heritage or political affiliation, we are first and foremost, Americans. As much as our differences matter to us, our shared patrimony matters more.

Within a few weeks Americans will begin our presidential campaign ritual. The contests will be fiercely fought, sometimes honorably, sometimes not. But politics is not for the faint of heart. There will no doubt be plenty of times the ref should throw a flag on the play, but in politics the only referees are the voters.

When this campaign season is over, the ballots cast and counted, and the victor declared we should all remember the sight of the Army and Navy football players standing shoulder to shoulder on their field of battle, paying homage to their opponents in the shared belief that what matters more than our partisanship is our brotherhood.

West Point Society of Tallahassee Founder’s Day 2005 speaker, Lieutenant General (USMC-Ret) Lawrence Snowden, was awarded the Distinguished Floridian Award on November 29, 2007.  Iti s only the ninth time in 28 years that the recognition has been granted.  In this photo, General Snowden is seen with Brigadier General (USAF-Ret) Bill Webb and Montse Webb.     

The awards ceremony was hosted by the Economic Club of Florida.  WPST Board of Directors member and Field Force representative, Bill Webb ’57, was the Master of Ceremonies. 

Perhaps former Florida Governor Mixson summed up General Snowden best by saying, “The Marine Corps is famous for looking for a few good men.  Larry Snowden is one of the very rare, best men the Marine Corps ever found.” 

Dear Reader,

It is that fabled time of year again, the days immediately preceding the “Greatest Rivalry in the History of Sport,” the annual Army-Navy football game. Who would have thought, when Dennis Michie conspired with Navy to challenge Army to a game of that new-fangled football in 1890, that the two academies would continue the contest, with minor interruptions due to excessive injuries to players or wartime, for over a century. The 108th game this Saturday, however, is especially significant—even more so than losing the 100th contest to Navy in 1999 (9-19) and during our Bicentennial year of 2002 (12-58) to start Navy’s current winning streak. Army must win to prevent Navy from amassing the longest winning streak in Army-Navy history—six games.

Some background:

1927: Chris Cagle and "Lighthorse" Harry Wilson scored TDs in the third quarter to win 14-9 and begin a five-game winning streak that extended into 1933 (no games in 1928-29 due to eligibility issues). Five in a row for Army under Coaches Biff Jones (1), Ralph Sasse (3) and Gar Davidson (1).

1939: Navy's turn, starting with a rainy 10-0 victory in Philadelphia. Navy then won 14-0 in 1940; 14-6 in 1941; 14-0 in 1942 (at Annapolis); and 13-0 in 1943 (at West Point). Evidently the regiment of cadets assigned to learn Navy cheers and songs (due to wartime travel restrictions) did a better job of cheering for Navy at West Point than the Middies so designated did cheering for Army at Annapolis. Five in a row for Navy.

1944: Army took its revenge in 1944 when the cadets steamed into Baltimore on a Navy ship escorted by destroyers. The soon-to-be National Champions were 8-0 and beat Navy 23-7. The National Champions of 1945 and 1946 also won, and the streak extended to four before ending with a 21-21 tie in 1948. Only four in a row for Army, although the Blaik’s Black Knights would win 38-0 the following year.

1959: Dale Hall became Army's head coach and dropped three in a row to Navy; successor Paul Dietzel dropped two before winning 11-8 in 1964. Five more for Navy.

1992: It took 11 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and a 49-yard field goal by Patmon Malcom in the waning seconds (after a 44-yard effort was nullified by a penalty), but Army squeezed past Navy, 25-24.

1993: Army led 16-0 at the end of the third quarter, but two Navy touchdowns narrowed the margin. Then Navy plebe place kicker Ryan Bucchianeri sent an 18-yard attempt wide right in the waning moments. Army 16, Navy 14.

1994: Place kicker Kurt Heiss sent a 52-yard attempt through the uprights in the final period, but an interception by free safety Derek Klein on the two-yard line in the same quarter saved the victory. Army rushed for 373 yards, while Navy passed for 361 in a losing cause. Army 22, Navy 20.

1995: Another nail-biter, won by John Conroy's one-yard plunge after Ronnie McAda completed a 28-yard pass to John Graves on 4th and 24 near the end of a legendary 99-yard drive that began when a Navy pass fell incomplete on 4th and goal at the Army one. Army 14, Navy 13.

1996: Army pulled off the greatest comeback in Army-Navy history by overcoming an 18-point deficit and also won the Commander in Chief's trophy, but it was Garland Gay's interception at the goal line with ten seconds remaining that sealed Navy's fate. An 81-yard TD return of the second half kickoff by halfback Bobby Williams was a harbinger of Navy’s eventual demise. Army 28, Navy 24. Five in a row for Army, all under Coach Bob Sutton.

2002: Navy won big (12-58) and, in the course of five contests, outscored Army 202-68 to take the lead in the series, 49-51-7.

2007: During the evening of 17-18 November, an alleged Army spirit mission, code-named Operation Good Shepherd, succeeded in capturing the three Navy goat mascots, Billy Goat XXXII, XXXIII and XXXIV, from a relatively unsecure farm near Annapolis. Reportedly brought back to West Point, the goats eventually were returned to Maryland, none the worse for wear. By the way, the goat as a mascot for Navy predates the obvious adoption of the mule by West Point. After seeing the Navy parade their goats on the sidelines, an unidentified officer from the Philadelphia Quartermaster depot pressed a large, white Army mule into service for the 1899 game. According to myth, the first-ever Army mule mascot kicked the Navy goat into the stands, and Army won, 17-5.

What are the prospects for the 2007 game? Navy, at 7-4, is consensus rated 64 out of 119 NCAA teams while Army (3-8) languishes back at 104, and Tulsa (9-3), Army’s last opponent before Navy, is ranked 50. Army scored the most points all season against Tulsa while losing 39-49 at Michie. Air Force, similarly 9-3 on the season, is ranked 39. Yearling Army quarterback Carson Williams finally seems to have grown comfortable in the pocket and attuned to receiver Jeremy Trimble ’08, while not forgetting Corey Anderson ’08, Justin Larson ’08, and others.

Fullback Mike Viti ’08, injured in the Tulsa game, is going to play, and Yearling running back Ian Smith, one of the few bright spots in the Rutgers game, might see a lot more action. On defense, Brian Chmura ’08, Caleb Campbell ’08, and Kevin Opoku ’08, among others, will be playing their last game for Army without having beaten Navy. Traditionally at the Army-Navy game, the graduating class has provided the extra motivation, be it in the form of exceptional plays by known heroes or by extraordinary plays by those who have not enjoyed laurels during the season. Perhaps it will be a graduating quarterback who steps into the breech. Maybe Stan Brock will add at least one more option play to the fake field goal and the reverse used against Tulsa. Perhaps it finally is Army’s turn to beat Navy, even though the numbers are against us and the Middies still would retain possession of the Commander in Chief’s trophy. Beat Navy!

Your humble servant, J. Phoenix, Esquire Please forward guest articles, comments and suggestions for futuretopics to JPhoenix@aogusma.org.

Did you receive this Gray Matter from a friend? If so, you may sign up to receive all future issues directly at: http://www.aogusma.org/CONTACT/signup.htm.

If you liked this news letter, you may also enjoy ASSEMBLY magazine, theVoice of the Long Gray Line. For additional information, visit http://www.aogusma.org/sd/pubs/site/index.cfm.

By RALPH PETERS

Editor’s Note:  The following commentary reflects the opinions of the writer and not necessarily the views of either The Quill staff or The West Point Society of Tallahassee.  Editorial cartoons were embedded by editors of The Quill. 
November 21, 2007 -- The situation in Iraq has im proved so rapidly that Democrats now shun the topic as thoroughly as they shun our troops when the cameras aren't around.
Yes, Iraq could still slip back into reverse gear. And no, we're not going to get a perfect outcome. But the positive indicators are now so strong that the left's defeatist lies are losing traction among the American people.

Attacks of every kind are down by at least half - in some cases by more than three-quarters. A wounded country's struggling back to health. And our mortal enemies, al Qaeda's terrorists, have suffered a defeat from which they may never fully recover: They've lost street cred.

Our dead and wounded have not bled in vain.

What happened? How did this startling turnabout come to pass? Why does the good news continue to compound?

Some of the reasons are widely known, but others have been missed. Here are the "big five" reasons for the shift from near-failure to growing success:

WE DIDN'T QUIT: Even as some of us began to suspect that Iraqi society was hopelessly sick, our troops stood to and did their duty bravely. The tenacity of our soldiers and Marines in the face of mortal enemies in Iraq and blithe traitors at home is the No. 1 reason why Iraq has turned around.

Without their valor and sacrifice, nothing else would've mattered. Key leaders were courageous, too - men such as now-Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno. Big Ray was pilloried in our media for being too warlike, too aggressive and just too damned tough on our enemies.

Well, the Ray Odiernos, not the hearts-and-minds crowd, held the line against evil. Only by hammering our enemies year after year were we able to convince them that we couldn't - and wouldn't - be beaten. If the press wronged any single man or woman in uniform, it was Odierno - thank God he was promoted and stayed in the fight.

GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS TOOK COMMAND: Petraeus brought three vital qualities to our effort: He wants to win, not just keep the lid on the pot; he never stops learning and adapting, and he provides top-cover for innovative subordinates.

By late 2006, mid-level commanders were already seizing opportunities to draw former enemies into an alliance against al Qaeda. Petraeus saw the potential for a strategic shift. He ignored the naysayers and supported what worked.

Oh, and under Petraeus our troops have been relentless in their pursuit of our enemies. Contrary to the myths of the left, peace can only be built over the corpses of evil men.

THE SURGE: While the increase in troop numbers was important, allowing us to consolidate gains in neighborhoods we'd rid of terrorists and insurgents, the psychological effect of the surge was crucial.

Pre-surge, our enemies were convinced they were winning - they monitored our media, which assured them that America would quit. Sorry, Muqtada - that's what you get for believing The New York Times.

The message sent by the surge was that we not only wouldn't quit, but also were upping the ante. It stunned our enemies - while giving Sunni Arabs disenchanted with al Qaeda the confidence to flip to our side without fear of abandonment.

FANATICAL ENEMIES: We lucked out when al Qaeda declared Iraq the central front in its war against civilization. Our monstrous foes alienated their local allies so utterly that al Qaeda in Iraq is now largely a spent force - the hunted, not the hunters. The terrorists have suffered a strategic humiliation.

Religious fanatics always overdo their savagery - but you can't predict the alienation time-line. Al Qaeda's blood-thirst accelerated the process, helping us immensely.

THE IRAQIS ARE SICK OF BLOODSHED AND DESTRUCTION: This is the least-recognized factor - but it's critical. We still don't fully understand the mechanics of black-to-white mood shifts in populations, but such transitions determine strategic outcomes.

What we do know is that, when tyrannical regimes collapse in artificial states such as Iraq (or the former Yugoslavia), a lot of pent-up grudges play out violently. People seem to need to get suppressed hatreds out of their systems.

The peace-through-exhaustion mood swing happened abruptly in Iraq. Suddenly, the people have had their fill of gunmen and gangsters who claim to be their defenders. Heads-down passivity has morphed into active resistance to the terrorists and militias.

We're all sober now, Americans and Iraqis. And peace is built on sobriety, not passion.

As Thanksgiving approaches, consider a vignette from Baghdad:

As part of its campaign to eliminate Iraq's Christian communities, al Qaeda in 2004 bombed St. John's Christian church in Doura, in the city's southern badlands. By last spring, local services had stopped completely.

Our Army's 2nd Battalion of the 12th Infantry stepped up. Under Lt. Col. Stephen Michael (a Newark native), our soldiers methodically cleaned up Doura - no easy or painless task - and aided the reconstruction of the church.

Last week, a grateful congregation returned for a service that was, literally, a resurrection. Fifteen local Muslim sheikhs attended the Mass to support their Christian neighbors. Could there be a more hopeful symbol?

Those long-suffering Iraqi Christians will celebrate Christmas in their neighborhood church this year. "Peace on earth" will mean more to them than mere words in a carol.

As for the grunts of 2-12 Infantry who made it all possible, their motto is "Ducti Amore Patria," or "Having been led by love of country."

On Thanksgiving Day, be thankful for such men.

Ralph Peters' latest book is "Wars of Blood and Faith."

With thanks to WPST Field Force for submitting this info to keep us all informed!  See the website address below for a  total of Rhodes and Marshall Scholarship, broken down by institution.  USMA leads USNA and USAFA comfortably!

	Jason Crabtree (Class of 2008, Company E-1, Kingston, WA) Rhodes Scholarship   Jason has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship.  Jason is a Civil Engineering major, and will be pursuing a two-year degree in information engineering at the Mobile Robotics Research Group at Oxford.  Jason is the First Captain of the Corps of Cadets, and enjoys SCUBA diving, mountaineering, and playing the guitar.
	Mel Sanborn (Class of 2008, Company C-1, Wilmot, NH) Marshall Scholarship   Mel has been awarded a Marshall Scholarship from the Boston Region.  Mel is a Chinese major, and will be attending the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London where he will pursue a one year Master of Arts in International Studies and Diplomacy, and one year Master of Arts in Chinese Studies. This is especially good news for Mel, a prior enlisted Soldier who graduated first in his class from USMAPs, and whose age made him ineligible for the Rhodes.
	Brad Wilson (Class of 2008, Company C-4, Grand Rapids, MI) Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship   Brad is a math and economics major from Grand Rapids, MI.   He is a member of company C-4 where he currently serves as a platoon leader.  He spent a semester at the United States Air Force Academy and participated in an internship at the RAND Corporation this summer.  He hopes to be an infantry officer and plans to pursue a Masters Degree in development studies from the London School of Economics.
	Tyler Jost (Class of 2008, Company C-4, Wheaton, IL) Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship Tyler is an International Relations and Chinese language major from Wheaton, IL.   He has spent four years as a member of company C-4 and the Debate Team.  In the first semester of his junior year, Tyler studied in Jilin University, China.  Most recently, Tyler spent two months participating in an Operation Crossroads Africa program in Rwanda to document testimonies of genocide victims.  Tyler will attend the School of Oriental and African Studies in London to earn an Masters in East Asian Politics before serving as a Military Intelligence officer.

A guy is driving around the back woods of Lousiana and he sees a sign in front of a broken down shanty-style house:  "Talking Dog for Sale ."

He rings the bell and the owner appears and tells him the dog is in the backyard.  The guy goes into the backyard and sees a nice looking Labrador retriever sitting there.

"You talk?" he asks.

Yep," the Lab replies.

After the guy recovers from the shock of a dog talking, he says "So, what's your story?"

The Lab looks up and says, "Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young. I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA and they had me sworn into the toughest branch of the armed services ...the U. S. Marines ..you know one of their nicknames is "The Devil Dogs".

In no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders; because no one figured a dog would be e vesdropping. I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running, but the jetting around really tired me out and I knew I wasn't getting any younger.

So, I decided to settle down. I retired from the Corps (8 dog years is 56 Corps years) and signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security, wandering near suspicious characters and listening in."

"I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals.  I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I'm just retired."

The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog.

"Ten dollars," the guy says.

"Ten dollars? This dog is amazing! Why on earth are you selling him so \ cheap?"

"Because he's a darn liar. He never did any of that stuff.  He was in the Army.”

Excerpted from an email from MAJ McBride, USMA,SE Regional Commander, Field Force,  to COL(Ret) Claude Shipley ’75, WPST Field Force. 12-16-07

If you accept an offer to USMAPSs you come in to the Army and are officially a soldier, but you are in a special situation (for example you can't come to USMAPs and then all of the sudden get sent to a unit going to Iraq)  Your only task is to study for USMA.

While at USMAPs all students take Math, English, a Study skills course and are required to take the SAT and ACT again.  (you don't have to improve your SATs/ACTs, but that is the hope that they will)

I don't know the rate to USMA the next year, but do know that most that do not matriculate leave because they choose to or, choose to by not applying necessary effort. There is enough help at USMAPS that if a student wants to go to USMA, they will meet the conditions:  Stay Healthy, Reapply, take SATs/ACTs, and earn good grades (As & Bs, maybe Cs, but no Ds of Fs)

If some leave, get hurt, fail out, gets kicked out for behavior, or graduates and decides not to accept an offer to USMA, they have NO obligation or contract with the US government, they walk away clean, UNLESS------They were a soldier prior to coming to USMAPS.  If so they go back to remainder of their contract.

Can  WPST Field Force pick ‘em or what?  Look no farther for that answer than Luke Grant, son of WPST members and US Service Academy Parents Club co-presidents Scott and Hope.  Luke is a senior at North Florida High and will be joining brother Adam ‘09 at West Point this summer. 

While at NFC, Luke was the solid center and anchor to an offensive line which led the Eagles to consecutive state championship games,  He’s also #1 academically in his class, taking college courses on top of his high school advanced placement / honors classes  

The latest highlight in Luke’s stellar high school years was presentation of the Amos P. Godby Student Athlete Award.  Chosen as the 2007 recipient, Luke joins other recipients who embody the ultimate in the classtoom and on the “fields of friendly strife”.  The Amos P. Godby Student Athlete Awar and other pretigious awards associated with the gridiron are presented annually by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club (http://tallahasseeqbclub.org/) during their final meeting each year.  The final meeting, known as “The Jamboree”, was held on December 11th at the FSU University Center Club ballroom.  Former Dallas Cowboy great, Drew Pearson, was the featured guest speaker and guest presenter

The awards presentation went off like clockwork.  Former Leon County Schools Superintendant Bill Montford had dinner with the Grants and, later, handled Luke's Scholar Athlete presentation.  During his remarks, the former superintendent said that he had had to update his notes during dinner.  Luke was no longer seeking admission to the United States Military Academy -- the call had been received that same day about getting his nomination!  The crowd offered Luke an energized round of applause, and numerous personal  "attaboys" following the program.

A couple weeks prior to the Quarterback Club presentation, Luke also received yet another honor.  At the state championship football game, Luke was presented a Junior Orange Bowl Committee, Scholar Athlete Award.  This award is given annually to the top scholar on each team.  Congratulations, Luke….and WELL DONE!!!

With special thanks to Mrs. JoAnn Butler of Houston for this story via email

A group of alumni, all highly established in their respective careers, got together for a visit with their old university professor.  The conversation soon turned to complaints about the endless stress of work and life in general.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the kitchen and soon returned with a large pot of coffee and an eclectic assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain, some expensive, some quite exquisite. Quietly he told them to help themselves to some fresh coffee.

When each of his former students had a cup of coffee in hand, the old professor quietly cleared his throat and began to patiently address the small gathering... ''You may have noticed that all of the nicer looking cups were taken up first, leaving behind the plainer and
cheaper ones.  While it is only natural for you to want only the best for yourself that is actually the source of much of your stress-related problems'

He continued..''Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In fact, the cup merely disguises or dresses up what we drink. What each of you really wanted was coffee, not a cup, but you instinctively went for the best cups... Then you began eyeing each
other's cups....''

''Now consider this: Life is like this coffee. Jobs, money, and position in society are merely the cups. They are just tools to shape and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not truly define nor change the quality of the life we live. Often, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee that has been provided for us... Enjoy your coffee!''

The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of what they have, remembering it’s the coffee….not the cup that really matters.  So, please,

1.  DSA Points:  Societies must accumulate 1,850 points in calendar year 2007 to earn the “Distinguished Society Award.”  Society Presidents and DSA Points Officers have access to DSA Points Entry on the WPAOG website.  The deadline for entering DSA points is 31 Jan 2008.  At that time, the site will close for 2007 so that we can verify entries and determine the Distinguished Societies for 2007.  (WPST President and Secretary are on this….and we have no worries about receiving our fifth consecutive DSA!)

2.  The “Soc Admin” features of the old website are now available on the new WPAOG website.  Once again, go to www.westpointaog.org and log in.  Again, click on the “Get Involved” tab, and then click on the word “Societies” on the left side of your screen. Society Admin should appear on the right.  You must log into Society Administration with your society code (for example, TX2) and your password.  Contact Debbie Evans for help and/or access.  (WPST Officers monitor this and keep us current)

3.  Founder’s Day:  If you have arranged for your own speaker for your Founder’s Day event (i.e., you do NOT have a USMA or WPAOG speaker), please let me know who it is as soon as possible.  I am working with our Info Systems folks on Founder’s Day website features for our grads, and would like to include all events.  Thanks for your help on this.  (AOG has been informed of our speaker, MG-Ret Loeffke)

4.  New website:  www.westpointaog.org has been up and running since August 2007.  Societies now manage the content on their society pages.  If you need help, contact us!  We have easy instructions.  Please note, the EMAIL feature on the new website is not yet functioning.  If you try to use that feature, you will send out a blank email.  I will let you know when this is operational. (WPST Webmaster is on it. We will keep our current configuration for a while. Stay tuned for news.)

Debbie and I wish all of you a wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy new year.  Please continue to let us know how we can help you!
Best regards,
Maryellen 
Maryellen Picciuto '86 
Director, Organizational Support
West Point Association of Graduates
698 Mills Road    West Point, NY  10996
845-446-1569  or  800-BE-A-GRAD x1569
Fax:  845-446-1695
maryellen.picciuto@usma.edu (until 30 Jan 08)
maryellen.picciuto@wpaog.org (effective immediately)
www.westpointaog.org

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USAA is investigating a new phishing scam that attempts to collect members' sensitive information.

Members have received a recent e-mail claiming to be from USAA that urges them to "verify the following information" including social security number and date of birth.  A hyperlink in the e-mail directs members to a counterfeit website that may contain malicious software designed to capture sensitive information.

USAA will not ask for any personal or account information, including PINs or passwords, in an e-mail. USAA also will not ask you to download software or threaten any action if you do not respond by a certain deadline. If you are suspicious about any e-mails or websites claiming to be from USAA, please notify us immediately at 1-877-632-3002 or e-mail us at abuse@usaa.com.

Here are some tips to protect yourself from this and other scams.

These fake e-mails appear to come from legitimate sources. They ask customers to verify personal information or link to fake websites that appear real.

Beware of e-mails that:

          Urge you to act quickly because your account may be suspended or closed.      

          Don't address you by name, but use more generic language like "Dear valued customer."

          Ask for amy sensitive information such as account numbers, passwords or other personal information.

Do not click on any link in these suspicious e-mails. You'll find more information about how to protect yourself in our Online Security Center.

Pharming redirects

Pharming involves redirecting Internet users to a fake website, even when they entered the correct address.

These bogus sites often look real, but secretly collect any personal information and passwords entered. Users end up at fraudulent sites by having spyware or a virus loaded on their computer, or by sophisticated hacking tricks.

Beware of any changes to the logon screen. If you are asked for anything out of the ordinary, do not enter any information….and report it immediately!

If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." - Mark Twain

"Suppose you were an idiot.  And suppose you were a member of Congress....  But then I repeat myself." - Mark Twain

"I contend that, for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity, is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle."  - Winston Churchill

"A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul."                  - George Bernard Shaw

"A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."  - G. Gordon Liddy

"Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner."  - James Bovard

"Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries."  - Douglas Casey

"Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."  -P.J. O'Rourke
 
"Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else."  - Frederic Bastiat, French Economist (1801-1850)

"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:  If it moves, tax it.  If it keeps moving, regulate it.  And if it stops moving, subsidize it." - Ronald Reagan

"If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free!"                - P.J. O'Rourke

"In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other."  - Voltaire (1764)

"Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!"  - Pericles (430 B.C.)

"No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session."  - Mark Twain "Talk is cheap ... except when Congress does it."  - Unknown

"The government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other."  - Ronald Reagan

"The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings.  The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery."  - Winston Churchill

"The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin."  - Mark Twain

"The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools."  - Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

"There is no distinctly Native American criminal class ... save Congress."  - Mark Twain

"What this country needs are more unemployed politicians."  - Edward Langley (1928 - 1995)

"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have."  - Thomas Jefferson

--- With a tip of the shako to WPST member Leigh Fairbank ’63 for passing these along. 

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Release

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

No. 1385-07
December 07, 2007

DoD Evaluates Military Service Academies' Sexual Harassment and Violence Programs

The Department of Defense today released key findings from this year’s Military Service Academy Assessment report. The report is the first such assessment to combine an evaluation of the academies’ new sexual assault prevention and response programs, an evaluation of sexual harassment programs, and feedback from cadet and midshipmen focus groups.

DoD officials met with academy personnel, reviewed academy policies and procedures, conducted an extensive data-call for reports and investigative files, and held focus groups with cadets and midshipmen. Based on information obtained during site visits, DoD found that the academies’ programs fulfilled the requirements of existing DoD policies and directives.

Key findings of the report include:

• The new DoD sexual assault prevention and response policy is fully implemented at each institution.
• Comprehensive and consistent response structures for victim support and care are present and functioning.
• All programs ensured every cadet and midshipman receives sexual harassment and violence prevention training as part of their preparation to become military leaders.
• Cadet and midshipmen focus group members provided a great deal of frank information, including the following:
• A significant amount of time is dedicated to sexual harassment and sexual assault prevention training.
• Sexual harassment and sexual assault are taken very seriously by leadership and staff at the academies.
• Cadets and midshipmen felt safe on academy grounds and believed that sexual assault occurred infrequently at their schools.

In order to enhance academy programs, the DoD report made several recommendations, including:

1. Victims of sexual assault should be connected with legal resources as soon as possible. 
2. Academy staff who work with the sexual assault prevention and response programs should increase their training, communication, and cooperation between each other and with off-base resources that support the criminal justice system.
3. Cooperation agreements with local community resources should be updated to provide greater information sharing and to resolve jurisdictional problems with civilian authorities.

The assessment also found there were a total of 40 reports of sexual assault at the academies during the evaluation period. Of those 40 reports, 20 cadets and midshipmen took advantage of the new confidential reporting option that was enacted across the DoD in 2005-2006.  Under this option, military members may choose to obtain medical, mental health care and other services without becoming involved in the criminal justice process. The other 20 sexual assault victims who desired to participate in the military justice process were also provided with support and care.  All cadets who reported a sexual assault were able to access services 24 hours a day, seven days a week through their installation’s sexual assault response coordinator.

The 2007 National Defense Authorization Act directed DoD to assess the effectiveness of the three academies’ related policies and programs on an annual basis.  The report released today includes data from the last academic program year, from June 1, 2006 through May 31, 2007. The U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Col., were included in the assessment.

In an email from COL(Ret) Claude Shipley, WPST Field Force Coordinator:  “Thought you might see what weaponry for non-lethal engagements is being developed.”

By Philip Sherwell in Quantico, Virginia

On a cold and rain-swept morning on a US marine base, I stood and braced myself to be zapped by the latest prototype weapon in the American armoury - an invisible heat beam from a high-powered ray gun.

The non-lethal device is designed for crowd control and the scientists responsible for monitoring this Star Trek technology had just assured me that I would suffer no harm and only temporary discomfort.

But my mind was still conjuring up the impact of a scalding shower or a burning iron as I stared, 500 yards down the firing range, at the unnerving sight of an armoured vehicle with the large antenna dish of its Active Denial System (ADS) pointing directly at me.

Then the officer standing next to me used his radio to call in the strike.

A moment later, jolted by a blast of directed energy delivered at the speed of light, I was squirming, grimacing and heading rapidly for cover - just as intended.

It felt as if I had opened a furnace with my face too close and been hit by a wall of scorching heat. Or, that I had been exposed to a searing draft of air from a huge hair-dryer, turned to extra hot - around 130F, to be precise.

Either way, it was intolerable after just a couple of seconds and I scurried out of the way - fast. But as soon as I escaped the fire zone, the temporary burning sensation subsided, although my skin continued tingling for several minutes.

I was the only British journalist invited by the US military's Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate to join a small group of reporters and some Pentagon top brass to experience the ADS first-hand at the base in Quantico, Virginia.

The aim was to spread the word that the device, nicknamed the Silent Guardian, is neither sinister nor dangerous. In an age when the US military has been dogged by allegations of torture at secret bases, such perceptions are crucial.

As the weapon's operator, Senior Airman Robert Hudspeth was the man immediately responsible for my suffering. Sitting in the passenger seat of a Humvee, he had first trained his camera on me, fixing me in the crosshairs on the touch-screen in front of him.

When the driver had separately checked on his own screen that I was the right target, the young airman squeezed the red trigger on a joystick to release the invisible beam of millimetre waves at me from the antenna on the vehicle's roof.

The energy struck my skin but only penetrated 1/64th inch (the thickness of three sheets of paper). "It would be very useful technology in the field in Iraq," said Airman Hudspeth, who has witnessed the need for better ways to control angry and threatening crowds during two tours there.

Earlier, Stephanie Miller, a scientist from the Air Force Research Laboratory's bio-effects

division, had soothingly explained that there would be no undesirable effects, bio or otherwise, from our exposure.

In 10,700 tests conducted over several years, only eight volunteers had experienced blisters - of which six required no medical treatment and the other two healed without complications.

"There's nothing exotic or strange here," she said. "It's just heat."

Then all we had to do was to sign waiver forms, releasing the US military from any responsibility for our fate when zapped, and we were free to take the heat.

From: Klascius, Chad A CPT MIL USA
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 9:03 AM
Subject: Update from the desert (Chad's OCT-NOV update)

Hi again everyone,

Well I won't even pretend like I'm doing a good job with these updates that were supposed to be monthly.  In fact I've been so busy lately that the past few months feel like a blur and I have no idea when the last update went out.  That being said its time for me to come home in a few days!!!!  Its been a long hard 15 months and I cannot wait to see my family and friends again.

These past few months have been overwhelming successful and I am so proud of my soldiers and all of their efforts. In the past year we've captured or killed a total of 183 insurgents. We've also seized 35 caches, found and destroyed 209 IEDs, and completely defeated Al Qeada in Hawr Rajab. Additionally we've stood up an army of 450 Concerned Local Citizens who we employ to protect their neighborhoods and established a municipal government of 37 local sheiks. We've fought some intense battles and received a lot of media attention (see attached videos) and George W. Bush commented on our success in Hawr Rajab during his televised speech on 2 Nov 07.

We used to get into intense gunfights about once a week and I usually averaged 3 injured soldiers per month. However, all of our efforts have yielded overwhelming results in completely defeating the insurgency in Hawr Rajab and we have not had a single bullet fired at us in the past 60 days and not a single soldier injured in the past 70 days!

We've also integrated the Iraqi Army into the area and between the Iraqi Army and Concerned Local Citizens, our town of Hawr Rajab is almost ready to be turned over to the Government of Iraq and withdraw US Forces. Hawr Rajab has been designated by the Division Commander as a "Model Community" that we are now seeing other neighboring town trying to imitate as they attempt to work with Americans, take control of their neighborhoods, expel Al Qaeda and bring peace to their citizens.

As the "Model Community" we are seeing a lot of reconstruction of the schools, businesses and increase in the quality of life for people. The same town that was a war zone containing hundreds of Al Qaeda eight months ago is now standing up its own local government and our soldiers are now playing soccer in the streets with the local children!

Most importantly, my soldiers are now going home knowing that they overwhelmingly succeeded in their mission in Iraq. That with only 71 combat scouts they turned an Al Qaeda stronghold into a model community and essentially won the war in Iraq inside our Area of Operations. The soldiers of Apache troop will always remember the men, women and children of Hawr Rajab who cheer for them to thank them for bringing peace to the area and they will always carry with them the fact that they have accomplished some good in this world

Looking back at it all I feel honored to have led an elite unit of airborne scouts into such a hostile combat area. I also feel blessed with the progress we've made and I will never forget the sacrifices of those who have fallen.

Four of my soldiers will never return and 19 have been wounded in this past year. These men are the true heroes who gave everything and died with honor fighting for what they believed in and for their country. I also thank God for watching over me, knowing that everyday my life lay in His hands and He safely delivered me back to my family.

Finally, I just want to thank Selena, Tristan and Aidan for fighting the war on terror on the home front and enduring the past year without their Daddy and Husband. Their sacrifices are significant and all of the soldiers over here, myself included, would not have the motivation or inspiration to fight without all of the love and support from our families and friends. Thank you all for your support and love and especially thank you Selena, I love you and will be home soon!

Hope to see you all soon!
-Chad Klascius

FYI. LtCol Dill gave us permission to publish his last monthly unclassified email that was sent to the family, friends, and others following 1/7 so maybe you'd like to include this email/press release. I know that he would appreciate any efforts in getting the news out, and this can be published without going back to him. Parts of LtCol Dill's email are included in a UPI newstory published by an embedded) reporter with 1/7.

Subject: [U] UPDATE

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

Family, fellow Marines, and friends of The First Team,

I hope this finds everyone doing well. We have been extremely busy since our last update in October. It's hard to believe TF 1/7 has almost hit the 1/2 way point of the deployment, time has been going by quickly. In the past 3 months, the Marines, Sailors, and soldiers of TF 1/7 have done an extraordinary job in exploiting the success within the AO that was initiated by the units (1st Bn, 2nd Marines and 2-7 Infantry, USA) preceding us. The companies have solidified the all so important relationships with the Iraqi Police, Iraqi Army, local leaders, and Iraqi citizens within their respective AOs and those relationships have resulted in increased security, improved basic services for the average citizen, and a significant number of tips that have led to the detainment of insurgents and the discovery of dozens of IEDs and Unexploded Ordinance (UXO). In total they have completed over 5,000 combat patrols, detained over 100 known and suspected insurgents, discovered over 150 IEDs, weapons caches, and unexploded ordinance, and driven over 100,000 miles in their HUMVEES, trucks, LAVs, and tanks. They have conducted dozens of raids, cordon and knocks, cache sweeps, and disruption operations. With the amount of 'activity' the Marines are doing as described above, we are not giving the enemy the time to rest or to regroup. In short, your Marines are performing as you would expect...like Marines.

We are focused on many areas and while security remains one of our concerns as we are still in a combat zone and there is still danger for every patrol and convoy that leaves the wire, it is no longer the greatest concern. The security situation is at such a point that I recently briefed a 3 star general that AQI and the insurgency are nearly defeated and they have at least temporarily lost their ability to fight and can no longer interfere to a significant degree with the actions of friendly or Iraqi Security forces.

The security is now allowing me, my subordinate commanders, and my staff to focus our energies and attention on improving a number of other issues like the local government...getting them to demand assistance from the Provincial level, getting them to communicate better with their citizens, to improve the basic services provided, and even to designing and developing a yearly and quarterly budget. The local city councils and mayors are getting government employees back to work and providing services like trash removal, repairs of water lines, repairs of electric lines, repairs of phone lines, and even road repairs and repaving. In the past, we (CF) would have to do some heavy coaxing and mentoring for them to take the initiative on items like this because of they way their government used to run under Saddam. All decisions were centralized and he allowed only a very select few to make them. Anyone who tried to do something on their own was quickly silenced. So to see them now is so encouraging and such a positive sign that our Iraqi brothers are truly embracing the freedom and the democracy they have been given.

We are focused on the economy. In the main city of Hit, in the 3 months we have been here there as been an estimated increase of 30-40% new businesses opening. Many of them are right next to or across the street from one of my major FOBs. This was UNHEARD of before! The locals always feared coming back to these locations because of the likelihood of an AQI attack against CF...they didn't want to get caught in the middle of a fire fight and I cannot say I blame them for that. But now, due to our encouragement and the encouragement of the local government and civic leaders, they are coming back and new businesses open everyday. The housing market is certainly in a boom phase and each day I see more and more being built.

We are focused on the Iraqi Rule of Law. Within the Hit District we now have three sitting judges who are hearing cases and investigating crimes with the local police. We have transferred a number of felony cases to Ramadi for trial at the "Federal Court." This is a significant accomplishment as it is THEIR process, it is THEIR laws, and THEY are doing it without our assistance or prodding. We are currently in the middle of a rebuilding project of the courthouse that when complete will give them a safe and respectable building to handle their own issues and trials.

We are focused on improving the professionalism and capabilities of the Iraqi Police and the Iraqi Army. I can honestly say that both of these organizations continue to make steady and impressive improvement. Your Marines and soldiers are 'partnered' with the police and army at the lowest levels. I am continually amazed to watch a young 20 something Corporal or Sergeant get in front of a group of IPs or IAs and through the assistance of an interpreter, give a very detailed and professional period of instruction that then results in the Iraqis quickly turning around and executing what they had just been taught. They are extremely adapt and eager to learn. Recently I was visiting with one of the two Iraqi Battalion Commanders I am partnered with and he wanted to show me something of which he was very proud. We went to one of his buildings and inside were 20-25 Iraqi soldiers taking English lessons from one of the interpreters! They were determined to speak English properly and were all very excited when one of them completed a sentence correctly. Their English is certainly better then my Arabic! I asked the Battalion Commander why he was doing this. His answer was he wanted his Soldiers to speak English so when they go on patrol with the Marines they can communicate better and learn more from them. He also wanted to have his soldiers show their appreciation to us by speaking English vice us speaking Arabic to them. I know when a US platoon or company is truly making an impact on the Iraqis they are partnered with when I see the Iraqis starting to emulate "their" Marines. You can see it in how they begin to wear their uniforms, how they wear their protective battle gear outside the wire, and even how they sling or holster their weapons. When they want to be like the Marines, it means the Marines are doing their job right. The IP and IA are certainly not perfect nor are they Marines but with continued training and time they are going to be more then sufficient for the threats they currently face and those they could face in the near future.

I have received many e-mails concerning the news coverage (or lack thereof) of the war and the positive progress we are seeing everyday. I too have been disheartened at times by the media's coverage of Iraq. Some in the media do not report to any large degree the successes we see or are experiencing on a near daily basis. Some are even downplaying and minimizing any successes that they do choose to mention. Since they can no longer ignore the improvements in security, a few have resorted to categorizing the successes we have achieved here as "luck." The truth of the matter is our current success is a result of nearly 5 years of counter-insurgency operations. A general officer recently summed it up perfectly last week as we toured the industrial area of Hit, an area that just a few short months ago was abandoned and now is by all accounts flourishing and improving everyday, by stating, "Every step we took, every footprint we left over the past four years have allowed us to get to this point today." It was not chance or luck. The Sheiks and tribal leaders didn't just wake up one day and decide to join the CF and risk their lives to fight against AQI and the insurgents...we had to earn their trust, prove to them that our objectives were genuine and noble, and we had to fight the enemy with everything we had to show our determination. The Sheiks' support was a combination of many ingredients but I can assure you luck had nothing to do with it. Luck is the near miss of an IED or a stray round, but luck does not result in the success we are currently enjoying...nearly 5 years of hard work does. This success has been earned by the blood, sweat, and tears of many, many Americans and Iraqis. Their sacrifice is just too great and their efforts too superb to dismiss their results and achievements as luck or chance.

To be fair, we have had two reporters come out with us and both have been objective in their reporting. Our first reporter was a 65 year old woman from Berkley, CA whose stated purpose on her web page was to impeach the President. When I saw Jane Stillwater was slated to come to Hit, I thought I obviously had done something wrong and my CO was getting even with me! Well, by the end of her time her with 1/7, I believe we all saw things a bit differently. She was a good sport and she even laughed when she went to her room and saw the poster of George Bush on the wall with the sign stating her room was the "The George W. Bush Suite." She was also a good sport when we took her to Baghdadi and all the kids were chanting "We love George Bush!" as she got out of the vehicle...wonder where they learned that? At the end of her time with us, her eyes were opened and she saw we were doing good things here, that we were not just killing people indiscriminately, and that the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States were pretty well educated and even open minded. At one point she told me she was having difficulty coming to grips with what she had been led to believe was going on here from the news media and what she was seeing with her own eyes. In turn, we realized that there are many ways to look at something and even Marines could have a friend from Berkley. I give a lot of credit to Jane as she put herself at risk so that she could see for herself what was going on here. I may not agree with all of her political views but she certainly earned my and every Marines' respect and admiration. Our latest reporter was from the AP, Rich Tomkins, who was a former White House Correspondent. Rich was out with the Marines and soldiers of the Task Force most of the time and his reporting was very fair and certainly covered the positive developments that we see each day. More reporters like Rich and Jane would go a long way to help get the day to day events here to the American people.

For Thanksgiving, the Sergeant Major and I traveled to all 14 FOBs, COPs, and OPs. It took us nearly 24 hours to do it but we wanted to 1) wish them a Happy Thanksgiving, 2) tell them how proud we are of them and what they have accomplished and 3) tell the Marines, Sailors, and soldiers that despite what they may see or read about in the Press, the American people support them, believe in our mission, and most importantly....they want us to win. I cannot tell you enough how important it is for the psyche of the average Marine, Sailor, and soldier to know that his country and his fellow Americans support what he is doing and believe his sacrifices and the sacrifices of his family are for a noble cause and not in vain. So thank you for the continued flood of letters and care packages as they mean a great deal to everyone here.

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, a wonderful Holiday season and a blessed and Happy New Year for 2008. We all appreciate your support, your generosity, and your prayers more then you can imagine. As always, I ask that you remember the families of all those serving here in your prayers as well.

Semper Fidelis,

JJ

JJ Dill
LtCol, USMC
Commanding Officer
Task Force 1/7
Hit, Iraq

16. "You know, stop lights don't come any redder than the one you just went through."

15. "Relax, the handcuffs are tight because they're new.  They'll stretch after you wear them a while."

14. "If you take your hands off the car, I'll make your birth certificate a worthless document."

13. "If you run, you'll only go to jail tired."

12. "Can you run faster than 1200 feet per second?  That's the speed of the bullet that'll be chasing you."

11. "You don't know how fast you were going I guess that means I can write anything I want to on the ticket, huh"

10. "Yes, sir, you can talk to the shift supervisor, but I don't think it will help.  Oh, did I mention that I'm the shift supervisor"

9. "Warning! You want a warning?  O.K, I'm warning you not to do that again or I'll give you another ticket."

8. "The answer to this last question will determine whether you are drunk or not.  Was Mickey Mouse a cat or a dog"

7. "Fair?  You want me to be fair?  Listen, fair is a place where you go to ride on rides, eat cotton candy and corn dogs and step in monkey poop."

6. "Yeah, we have a quota.  Two more tickets and my wife gets a toaster oven."

5. "In God we trust, all others we run through NCIC."

4. "How big were those 'two beers' you say you had?"

3. "No sir, we don't have quotas anymore.  We used to, but now we're allowed to write as many tickets as we can."

2. "I'm glad to hear that the Provost marshal is a personal friend of yours.  So you know someone who can post your bail."

AND THE WINNER IS....

1. "You didn't think we give pretty women tickets?  Well, you're right.  Sign here."

The culminating point marks the shift in advantage from one side to the other, when the outcome becomes irreversible: The potential loser can inflict casualties, but has lost all chance of victory. The only issue is how much longer the war will last, and what the butcher's bill will be.

Battles usually define the culminating point. In World War II, Midway was a turning point against the Japanese, El Alamein was a turning point against the Nazis and after Stalingrad, Germany no longer was able to stop the Russians from advancing on their eastern front. Wars usually culminate before either antagonist is aware of the event. Abraham Lincoln didn't realize Gettysburg had turned the tide of the American Civil War. In Vietnam, the Tet offensive proved that culminating points aren't always military victories.

Culminating points are psychological, not physical, happenings. The commanders I spoke to in Iraq all said that there had been a remarkable change of mood in February when Gen. Petraeus announced that they were taking the fight to the enemy by taking Baghdad from al Qaeda. He pushed soldiers out of the big (and relatively safe) forward operating bases and scattered them among really bad neighborhoods. These joint security stations and combat outposts attracted locals and encouraged them to pass on intelligence about the enemy.

To bolster local security within Baghdad, Gen. Petraeus pushed the security perimeter beyond the city's limits. In May, he began arraying combat units in four successive "belts" around Baghdad. These units painfully ejected al Qaeda influence from the suburbs and satellite cities, effectively choking off reinforcements.

In early June, the enemy miscalculated. Sensing that they were losing inside Baghdad, al Qaeda's leaders pulled out and relocated to Baquba, long an insurgent haven on the outskirts of the city. Al Qaeda propaganda refers to Baquba as the capital of "The Islamic State of Iraq." It's central to our story, because it was the last contested urban battle ground al Qaeda had within greater Baghdad. Once ejected from Baquba, al Qaeda's connection to Baghdad -- the center of gravity of the coalition's campaign -- would be broken.

Given the stakes, both sides fought fiercely for Baquba. The enemy carefully prepared a defense that included concentric rings of improvised explosive devices. Leaks from al Qaeda sympathizers within the Iraqi Army kept the enemy informed of the coalition's intentions.

The U.S. operation, called Arrowhead Ripper, began with a series of carefully orchestrated house to house assaults. This was an intelligence-driven battle with precise information, gleaned from overhead surveillance using unmanned aircraft, signals intercepts and willing Iraqis who came forward. The combat was sharp and at times furious. American casualties rose in late June; the enemy fought knowing full well that losing Baquba would force them to retreat into the empty northern deserts. By the end of July, al Qaeda's decision to regroup in Baquba left it a fractured, relatively leaderless force, stripped of concealment and popular support. Once in the open terrain of the deserts, al Qaeda fighters became easier targets for surgical hits from Special Operations teams.

But successful counterinsurgency operations don't capture fixed objectives. They create what soldiers call "white spaces," areas devoid of influence, political vacuums that compel occupancy by either an enemy seeking to rebound after defeat or by legitimate government forces seeking to establish regional control.

In Iraq now, the white spaces are being filled with a newly resurgent Iraqi military and clusters of Concerned Local Citizens Councils, which sprouted spontaneously as Sunni tribal sheikhs smelled both success and commitment from us.

To be sure, Baghdad and the surrounding belts are not yet safe. But culminating points are psychological events. What I witnessed firsthand in Iraq was a shift in opinions and a transfer of will among Iraqis, not a classic military takedown. This change was palpable and unmistakable.

Whether this military culminating point can translate into a political and economic culminating point remains to be seen. But the campaign that took place from spring until late summer reinforces the classic tenet of warfare, that success on the ground sets the conditions for diplomatic and political success.

Gens. Petraeus and Ray Odierno have achieved success on the ground at an unprecedented speed in the history of counterinsurgency warfare. Now it's time to apply the same sense of urgency and commitment to the task of reuniting the tragically fractured nation and bring it back from the brink of annihilation.

Retired Major Gen. Scales, a former commandant of the Army War College, is president of Colgen Inc., a defense consulting firm.

Also….was appointed President and CEO of Walden University in 2000. In December 2002 he was appointed president of Capstar Government Services (CGS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Educational Testing Services. He is currently an independent consultant for defense matters. Prior to joining the private sector Dr. Scales served over 30 years in the Army, retiring as a Major General. He commanded two units in Vietnam, winning the Silver Star for action during the battles around Dong Ap Bia (Hamburger Hill) in 1969.

Subsequently, he served in command and staff positions in the United States, Germany, and Korea and ended his military career as Commandant of the United States Army War College. In 1995 he created the Army After Next program which was the Army’s first attempt to build a strategic game and operational concept for future land warfare. He is the

author of Certain Victory, the official account of the Army in the Gulf War, and Firepower in Limited War, a history of the evolution of firepower doctrine since the end of the Korean War. He was the only serving officer to have written books subsequently selected for inclusion in the official reading lists of two services; Certain Victory for the Army and Firepower for the Marine Corps. In addition he has written Future Warfare, a strategic anthology on America’s wars to come, and Yellow Smoke: The Future of Land Warfare for America’s Military. His latest work, The Iraq War: A Military History, written with Williamson Murray was published by Harvard University Press in October 2003. He is military analyst for Natio nal Public Radio and Fox News Network and is a frequent commentator and consultant for other major media networks on issues relating to military history and defense policy. He is a 1966 graduate of West Point and earned his PhD in history from Duke University.

Military.com  |  By Christian Lowe  |  December 18, 2007

The primary weapon carried by most soldiers into battle in Iraq and Afghanistan performed the worst in a recent series of tests designed to see how it stacked up against three other top carbines in sandy environments.

Another carbine involved in the tests that had been rejected by the Army two years ago, the H&K XM8, came out the winner, with a total of 116 minor stoppages and 11 major ones. The Mk16 experienced a total of 226 stoppages, the 416 had 233.

The Army was quick to point out that even with 863 minor stoppages -- termed "class one" stoppages which require 10 seconds or less to clear and "class two" stoppages which require more than ten seconds to clear -- the M4 functioned well, with over 98 percent of the 60,000 total rounds firing without a problem.

"The M4 carbine is a world-class weapon," said Brig. Gen. Mark Brown, the Army's top equipment buyer, in a Dec. 17 briefing at the Pentagon. Soldiers "have high confidence in that weapon, and that high confidence level is justified, in our view, as a result of all test data and all investigations we have made."

Though Army testers and engineers are still evaluating the data, officials with the Army's Infantry Center based in Fort Benning, Ga., said they planned to issue new requirements for the standard-issue carbine in about 18 months that could include a wholesale replacement of the M4. But the Army has been resistant to replace the M4, which has been in the Army inventory for over 18 years, until there's enough of a performance leap to justify buying a new carbine.

"We know there are some pretty exciting things on the horizon with technology ... so maybe what we do is stick with the M4 for now and let technologies mature enough that we can spin them into a new carbine," said Col. Robert Radcliffe, director of combat development at the Army's Infantry Center. "It's just not ready yet. But it can be ready relatively rapidly."

That's not good enough for some on Capitol Hill who've pushed hard for the so-called "extreme dust test" since last spring. Oklahoma Republican Senator Tom Coburn placed a hold on the nomination of Army Secretary Pete Geren earlier this year to force the Army to take another look at the M4 and its reliability.

In an April 12 letter to the still unconfirmed Geren, Coburn wrote that "considering the long standing reliability and lethality problems with the M16 design, of which the M4 is based, I am afraid that our troops in combat might not have the best weapon." He insisted the Army conduct a side-by-side test to verify his contention that more reliable designs existed and could be fielded soon.

Despite the 98 percent reliability argument now being pushed by the Army, one congressional staffer familiar with the extreme dust tests is skeptical of the service's conclusions.

"This isn't brain surgery -- a rifle needs to do three things: shoot when you pull the trigger, put bullets where you aim them and deliver enough energy to stop what's attacking you," the staffer told Military.com in an email. "If the M4 can't be depended on to shoot then everything else is irrelevant."

The staffer offered a different perspective of how to view the Army's result. If you look at the numbers, he reasoned, the M4's 882 total stoppages averages out to a jam every 68 rounds. There are about 30 rounds per magazine in the M4.

By comparison, the XM8 jammed once every 472 rounds, the Mk16 every 265 rounds and the 416 every 257 rounds. Army officials contend soldiers rarely fire more than 140 rounds in an engagement.

"These results are stunning, and frankly they are significantly more dramatic than most weapons experts expected," the staffer said.

Army officials say the staffer's comparison is "misleading" since the extreme dust test did not represent a typical combat environment and did not include the regular weapons cleaning soldiers typically perform in the field.

So the Army is sticking by the M4 and has recently signed another contract with manufacturer Colt Defense to outfit several more brigade combat teams with the compact weapon. Service officials say feedback from the field on the M4 has been universally positive -- except for some grumbling about the stopping power of its 5.56mm round. And as long as soldiers take the time to clean their weapons properly, even the "extreme" dust testing showed the weapon performed as advertised.

"The force will tell you the weapon system is reliable, they're confident in it, they understand that the key to making that weapon system effective on the battlefield and killing the enemy is a solid maintenance program and, just as important, is a marksmanship program," said Sgt. Maj. Tom Coleman, sergeant major for PEO Soldier and the Natick Soldier Systems Center. "So, you can't start talking about a weapon system without bringing in all the other pieces that come into play."

That's not enough for some who say the technology is out there to field a better, more reliable rifle to troops in contact now.

"It's time to stop making excuses and just conduct a competition for a new weapon," the congressional staffer said.

Sound Off...What do you think? Join the discussion.

Copyright 2007 Military.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,158468,00.html?ESRC=eb.nl

A commentary by  Charley Reese     

Editor’s Note:  The following commentary reflects the opinions of the writer and not necessarily the views of either the editorial staff of The Quill or The West Point Society of Tallahassee.

People who believe in gun control are ignorant, superstitious or stupid. Violence is not caused by inanimate objects. Criminals, by definition, do not obey laws, including gun-control laws. Therefore, the only accomplishment of gun-control laws is to assure the criminals that their victims will be unarmed.

When the state of Florida was considering a law allowing honest citizens to carry concealed weapons, my liberal colleagues at the newspaper became virtually hysterical. They were certain the murder rate would skyrocket and that there would be shootings on every street corner and at supermarket checkout counters. The law was passed, and the murder rate did not skyrocket. Nor did hundreds of thousands of Floridians apply for concealed-weapon permits. After all, lugging around a pound or so of iron is inconvenient. What their hysteria revealed, however, was how far removed from reality elitists are. How could any sane person imagine that his fellow citizens would suddenly go berserk if they had access to a firearm? It shows you what low opinion elitists have of their fellow man.

Having been born in the Deep South by the grace of God and having lived in the South, by choice, my whole life, I have lived among people who had access to firearms. In the South, there is a cultural rule: Never insult a man you are not prepared to fight, and never fight a man you are not prepared to kill. Southerners, unlike people in some parts of the country, all have lines they do not allow other people to cross.

I have been blessed to live with such people. I guarantee you that Southerners would not stand around and watch some criminal murder a woman, as happened in an infamous case in New York City.

On one of my visits to Georgia, I heard a local newscast about a man who attempted to rob a store and was captured by the store's customers. The news story said police planned to charge the man "as soon as he is released from the hospital."

Another point to consider about gun control is that no criminal attacks an innocent person in the presence of the police. Even if the victim can get to a telephone, he has to deal with the criminal until the police arrive. So ask yourself: How do you plan to deal with a violent criminal? The best thing to do is shoot the villain.

That’s right.  It’s that time of year again, the DMZ between last year and this year, the old year and the new year.  It’s time to throw out the used and abused, get ‘with it’ using new stuff.  Here’s a few tips for helping you realize you’re living in different times.

You know you are living in 2008 when...
1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3.  You think “bank” is spelled A-T-M.   
4. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.
5. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
6. You don’t stay in touch with friends or family because they don't have e-mail.
7. You pull into your own driveway and use the cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
8. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.
10. Leaving home without your cell phone, which you didn't even have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic.  You turn around to go get it.
11. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
12. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
13. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.
14. Worse, you already know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
15.. You’re too busy, too new-fangled frazzled to even notice there was no #9 on this list.
16.. You actually looked or scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9.
~~~~~~~~~~~AND FINALLY~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now, U R laughing (LOL) at yourself,…..aren’t you?  I knew it.   
Go on, forward this to your friends.

-- Author Unknown --

Wacky, Weird…or Just Plain Fun And Interesting!

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2007/11/11/starr.heroes.gadson.cnn (Army football player, LTC Greg Gadson ’89, WIA Recovery)

www.LetsSayThanks.com (Xerox website allowing a card of thanks to be sent to US service personnel.  Good stuff.)

http://finance.yahoo.com/focus-retirement/article/103937/The-Baby-Boomer's-Guide-to-Social-Security?mod=retirement-preparation (Baby boomer SSAN poop)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKQPH6l687o&feature=related (Charlie Rose broadcasting from West Point --- nearly 1 hour video!)

http://www.quizyourprofile.com/guessyournumber.swf (Pick a number, any number….and watch this site guess it!)

http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/ (Non-denomiational, incredible photography, wisdom by the bushel)

http://www.priceless.com/us/personal/en/extras/peptalks/index.html?GP=ILC-REDpeptalks (Peyton Manning customizes a pep talk just for you!)

http://home.comcast.net/~nw-fla/tribute_flag_B_thompson.htm (Elvis singing “America, The Beautiful”)

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,158468,00.html?ESRC=eb.nl  (M4 Carbine performs poorly in extreme dust tests)

http://www.elfmovie.com/swf/snowball_fight/index.html (So it’s a little late for Christmas….but probably as close as you’ll get to snow in FL.  Don’t hit Santa!)

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/319073/czech_recruitment_video/ (Czech Army recruiting ad.)

http://www.1800goguard.com/movie/index2.php (Thanks to Claude Shipley ’75, Field Force, Nat’l Guard ad with Three Doors Down singing “Citizen Soldier”)

http://www.iwo.com/heroes.htm (“Until We Meet Again” – with special thanks to a true warrior, CSM(Ret) Blaine Goin)

http://crass.on.ru/flash/aaa-1.html  (Take a little target practice with T-Bone!)

http://www.idodogtricks.com/index_flash.html (Type typical commands & watch him perform!)

http://www.ferryhalim.com/orisinal/g2/applegame.htm (catch the apples!)

Once again, dear reader, your humble servant seeks your leave to reminisce about movies of the season. There is an old saying among movie buffs that “They don’t make them like they used to.” Viewing current offerings at the local cinema, one is tempted to agree, but in the realm of made-for-TV Christmas motion pictures and even recent Hollywood efforts of the Season, there is some hope after all. The gold star for effort—and achievement in this area—goes to Hallmark for a string of touching, sentimental, and G-rated offerings, the latest of which is The Christmas Card (2007).

A dedicated, young master sergeant (John Newton) serving in Afghanistan receives a “To Any Soldier” Christmas card describing a town in California and thanking him for his service to his country. When one of Newton’s soldiers is killed in a random mortar attack, the commander sends Newton back to the States on leave. Attending a Sunday service at the church described in the card, he meets Ed Asner, a Viet Nam veteran and local lumber mill owner. When he saves Asner from being hit by a car, Newton is invited to dinner and later offered a temporary job at the mill. Of course, Asner is the father of Faith (Alice Evans), the woman who sent him the card, but she is engaged to another.

In a mainstream effort, The Holiday (2006) comes highly recommended. Starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black, it tells the tale of a workaholic American woman who cannot cry (Diaz), even when she discovers that her significant other has cheated on her, and an English woman whose boyfriend and colleague just announced his engagement to another. Winslet puts her cottage on a home-swapping website, and Diaz offers her Beverly Hills mansion in exchange. One of the best vignettes involves Eli Wallach as a legendary but elderly screen writer who refuses to accept a “lifetime achievement” award because of his failing mental and physical faculties, until Winslet offers to accompany him. A different but satisfying seasonal effort.

This year, a favorite Hallmark effort, Santa Baby (2006) , starring George Wendt as Santa and Jenny McCarthy as his somewhat estranged daughter, became available on DVD. She has shortened her last name to Clas and is a high-powered marketing consultant, working 24/7 to turn around a failing big-box chain, when she receives word that her father has had a mild heart attack and she may have to take over Christmas. She has her problems—working with the elves to modernize and increase production, learning how to come down the chimney to the satisfaction of her father, getting the reindeer to cooperate and fly, and choosing between her old and her current boyfriend, but it all resolves itself quite well in the end.

A Season for Miracles (1998), an older Hallmark effort, has begun to appear on the small screen recently. A believable Carla Gugino plays the sister of drug addict Laura Dern, in the hospital after another overdose and in danger of having her two children placed in foster care. Gugino attempts to take the children with her back to Atlanta, but her car’s engine gives out in a town called Bethlehem. Enter Patty Duke as an angel, who suggests they go to an old Victorian mansion on the town square. The original owner died several years ago, and her heirs have not yet come to claim it. In the midst of a rainstorm, Gugino finds a hidden key, lights a fire in the fireplace, and she and the kids bed down for the night. David Conrad, as town police chief, takes an interest in Cugino and assumes she is the legal heir. Later, angel Duke appears as a clerk in the town hall of records, apparently confirming it, and again as a wise bartender when Conrad discovers the truth. Faith Prince plays a sympathetic friend in the police department, and Lynn Redgrave does a cameo as the judge who sorts everything out in the end. Pay particular attention when the children take a close look at the angel statue in the town square.

Another contemporary winner is A Boyfriend for Christmas (2003) , starring WWII vet Charles Durning as Santa Claus. When she was a young girl, Kelli Williams asked Santa to bring her a boyfriend for Christmas. Instead, she found a snow globe with a poem indicating it might take 20 years. Well, the 20 years now are up. Williams is a public service lawyer who broke up with her boyfriend a few years earlier and is incensed when the failure of a pro bono lawyer (Patrick Muldoon) to appear at a hearing means a single mother cannot regain custody of her children before Christmas. When Durning sends Muldoon, whom Williams has never seen, to her as a Christmas present (including a tree with all the trimmings), Muldoon gives her a false name. She surprises her family by showing up with Muldoon for Christmas dinner, and he charms the family and her. Unfortunately, the one thing Williams will not tolerate is lying. Although Muldoon tries to tell her the truth several times, it is the old boyfriend who exposes him—and proposes to Williams on New Year’s Eve.

“Do overs” are very popular in some Christmas movies, taking a cue from Groundhog Day (1993) , but most fail to be as successful. A case in point is the aptly named Christmas Do Over (2007) , starring the usually likable Jay Mohr. In this case he plays a worthless divorced father who is invited to Christmas dinner with his ex-wife’s family and his son—again and again and again. A somewhat better effort is Christmas Every Day (1996), in which the character experiencing repeated Christmases is an adolescent boy. The title comes from a book published by William Dean Howells (a literary colleague of Mark Twain and Henry James) in 1892 and mentioned in the popular seasonal book and Hallmark DVD, The Christmas Box (1995).

But if you want pure Christmas pleasure, don’t forget the old black and white gems that they really don’t make any more: The Bishop’s Wife (Loretta Young 1947); A Christmas Carol (Alistair Sim 1951); Christmas in Connecticut (Barbara Stanwyck 1945); Beyond Christmas (Richard Carlson 1940); and It’s A Wonderful Life (Jimmy Stewart 1947). Or the spectacular, full color, musical version of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge (Albert Finney 1970).

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or the winter solstice, please accept our sincere wishes for peace on earth, good will towards men, and the safe and successful return of our men and women in the armed services and those of our allies. To those who have lost loved ones in conflicts past and present, our sincerest sympathy and appreciation for what they have done to permit us to celebrate this special season.

Your humble servant, J. Phoenix, Esquire

Please forward guest articles, comments and suggestions for future topics to JPhoenix@aogusma.org.

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Charlie Brown was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 379th Bomber Group at Kimbolton, England.  His B-17 was called 'Ye Old Pub' and was in a terrible state, having been hit by flak and fighters. The compass was damaged and they were flying deeper over enemy territory instead of heading home to Kimbolton.

After flying over an enemy airfield, a German pilot named Franz Steigler was ordered to take off and shoot down the B-17. When he got near the B-17, he could not believe his eyes. In his words, he 'had never seen a plane in such a bad state'. The tail and rear section was severely damaged, and the tail gunner wounded. The top gunner was all over the top of the fuselage... The nose was smashed and there were holes everywhere .

Despite having ammunition, Franz flew to the side of the B-17 and looked at Charlie Brown, the pilot. Brown was scared and struggling to control his damaged and blood-stained plane.

Aware that they had no idea where they were going, Franz waved at Charlie to turn 180 degrees. Franz escorted and guided the stricken plane to and slightly over the North Sea towards England He then saluted Charlie Brown and turned away, back to Europe.

When Franz landed he told the C/O that the plane had been shot down over the sea, and never told the truth to anybody. Charlie Brown and the remains of his crew told all at their briefing, but were ordered never to talk about it.

More than 40 years later, Charlie Brown wanted to find the Luftwaffe pilot who saved the crew. After years of research, Franz was found. He had never talked about the incident, not even at post-war reunions.

They met in the USA at a 379th. Bomber Group reunion, together with 25 people who are alive now - all because Franz never fired his guns that day.

Research shows that Charlie Brown lived in Seattle and Franz Steigler had moved to Vancouver, BC, after the war.  When they finally met, they discovered they had lived less than 200 miles apart for the past 50 years!

By Alan M. Dershowitz
FrontPageMagazine.com | 12/7/2007

“During the past year, a period when Iran’s weapons program was supposedly halted, the government has been busy installing some 3,000 gas centrifuges at its plant at Natanz. These machines could, if operated continuously for about a year, create enough enriched uranium to provide fuel for a bomb. In addition, they have no plausible purpose in Iran’s civilian nuclear effort. All of Iran’s needs for enriched uranium for its energy programs are covered by a contract with Russia.

“Iran is also building a heavy water reactor at its research center at Arak. This reactor is ideal for producing plutonium for nuclear bombs, but is of little use in an energy program like Iran’s, which does not use plutonium for reactor fuel. India, Israel and Pakistan have all built similar reactors—all with the purpose of fueling nuclear weapons. And why, by the way, does Iran even want a nuclear energy program, when it is sitting on an enormous pool of oil that is now skyrocketing in value? And why is Iran developing long-range Shahab missiles, which make no military sense without nuclear warheads to put on them?

“…the halting of its secret enrichment and weapon design efforts in 2003 proves only that Iran made a tactical move. It suspended work that, if discovered, would unambiguously reveal intent to build a weapon. It has continued other work, crucial to the ability to make a bomb, that it can pass off as having civilian applications.”

Duh! What then can explain so obvious an intelligence gaffe. One explanation could lie in the old saw that “military intelligence is to intelligence as military music is to music”. But I simply don’t believe that our intelligence agencies are populated by the kind of nincompoops who would fall for so obvious an Iranian ploy. The more likely explanation is that there is an agenda hiding in the report. What then might that agenda be? To find a hidden agenda one should always look for the beneficiaries. Who wins from this deeply flawed report? Well, certainly Iran does, but it is unlikely that Iranian interests could drive any American agenda. Lincy and Milhollin surmise that:

“We should be suspicious of any document that suddenly gives the Bush administration a pass on a big national security problem it won’t solve during its remaining year in office. Is the administration just washing its hands of the intractable Iranian nuclear issue by saying, ‘[i]f we can’t fix it, it ain’t broke?’”

My own view is that the authors of the report were fighting the last war. No, not the war in Iraq, but rather what they believe was Vice President Cheney’s efforts to go to war with Iran. This report surely takes the wind out of those sails. But that was last year’s unfought war. Nobody in Washington has seriously considered attacking Iran since Condolleezza Rice and Robert Gates replaced Cheney as the foreign policy power behind the throne.

Whatever the agenda and whatever the motive this report may well go down in history as one of the most dangerous, misguided and counterproductive intelligence assessments in history. It may well encourage the Iranians to move even more quickly in developing nuclear weapons. If the report is correct in arguing that the only way of discouraging Iran from developing nuclear weapons is to maintain international pressure, then the authors of the report must surely know that they have single-handedly reduced any incentive by the international community to keep the pressure up.

If Neville Chamberlain weren’t long dead I would wonder whether he had a hand in writing this “peace in our time” intelligence fiasco.

I wish the intelligence assessment were correct. So does most of the media, which accepted its naïve conclusion with uncritical enthusiasm. The world would be a far safer place if Iran had indeed ended its efforts to develop deliverable nuclear weapons. But wishing for a desirable outcome does not make it so. Pretending that a desirable outcome is happening, when the best information indicates that it’s not, only encourages the worst outcome.

The authors of this perverse report, which is influencing policy so immediately and negatively, will have much to answer for if their assessment results in a reduction of pressure on Iran—which is the only nation actually to threaten to use nuclear weapons to attack its enemies—to stop its obvious march toward becoming the world’s most dangerous nuclear military power.

Alan Morton Dershowitz (born September 1, 1938) is an American lawyer, jurist, and political commentator. He is the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, and is known for his extensive published works, career as an attorney in several high-profile law cases, and commentary on the Arab-Israeli conflict.